Tri-States Amateur Radio Club Photo Gallery

Tri-States Amateur Radio Club
Last additions
IMG_1367.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1366.jpeg
1 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1365.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
1000010573.jpg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1364.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
1000010576.jpg
1 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1368.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1372.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
IMG_1370.jpeg
0 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.

Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.

Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.

Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!

Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.

Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.

It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
Oct 19, 2026
us0960_3.jpg
3 viewsThis week our POTA group met up at Russell Cave National Monument (US-0960), near Bridgeport, AL, on Thursday, October 8. The weather was perfect with an absolutely clear sky (I think pilots call it "severe clear") and the temps were more in keeping with fall weather! We met up about 30 minutes earlier than usual to allow ample time to make it back to the TSARC meeting but return traffic on I-24 East almost foiled us anyway! This is a really nice site with several picnic tables and more than a few shade trees. Nobody had cellular service, though!

Ed (KM6UTC) set up inside his Range Rover and used his ATAS antenna to make 45 FT8 contacts, mostly on 20 Meters but a few on 30 and 17 Meters, too! DX included; Canada, Ceuta & Melilla, Slovak Republic, Chile, Germany and France.

Micha (K3WGC) set up his painter's pole mast with a "drive-on" mast holder in a unique way. Instead of driving over it with his truck, he slightly lifted one end of the picnic table he was using at the park, slid the holder under the leg, and let the weight of the heavy-duty table hold it down. Then with his 20 Meter hamstick dipole on top he used his Xiegu G90, at 20 watts, and made at least 16 Park-to-park contacts!

Danny (AG4DW) set up his KJ6ER Performer antenna with elevated radials and started out on 40 Meters SSB and got a quick 27 contacts. Switching to 15 Meters and FT8 mode, he managed another 21 contacts. Finally, switching to 20 Meters, he hunted for another quick 5 contacts, including the Mother Ship (W1AW). Total of 54 contacts for the day, including 9 Park-to-park contacts. DX (14) included: Belize, Canada (4), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Poland, Puerto Rico (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland. All on 15 Meters.

Having a need to stay a little closer to home this week, Dave (KQ4GLQ) and Maurice (KO4MPH) ran a two-operator activation at Cloudland Canyon State Park (US-2160) from the Nick-a-Jack Trailhead. Dave had a total of 87 contacts; 33 SSB on 40 Meters, 33 SSB on 20 Meters and 21 FT8 on 40 Meters. Maurice had 36 SSB contacts for the day.

Jim (N4WWE) activated Chattanooga and Chickamauga NMP (US-0716) and Trail of Tears (US-3791) with a 20 Meter hamstick and was QRP at 5 watts. After successfully hunting AG4DW, KQ4GLQ and KO4MPH at their respective parks, he went on to make a total of 18 contacts.

Earlier in the week:

Allen (KN4FKS) headed up to Otting WMA (US-7913), near Cloudland, GA, on Monday, October 5. Allen is getting closer to his Kilo at that park. On Monday he had 125 SSB contacts which leaves him only 93 more to go!

Danny (AG4DW) set up in Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) on Wednesday, October 7, at the recreation area behind Wilder's Tower. He had a total of 138 contacts on 40 and 20 Meters using both SSB and FT8.

And congratulations to Doug (W4LAW) who managed a total of 5 activations at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) this past week and crushing through his 4th Kilo at this park! 421 total contacts in US-0716 just in the past week!

>>>>>> And don't forget to listen for Allen Padgett (KN4FKS) and John Law (KB4QXI) calling CQ this weekend. They are in Mentone, AL, at a Cave-In meeting, and will be playing radio in between activities, with probably some other operators thrown in. Maybe they will do some 40 Meter SSB so we can have a better chance of hearing them. Set them up in HamAlert and make contact!
Oct 10, 2026
us0960_4.jpg
3 viewsThis week our POTA group met up at Russell Cave National Monument (US-0960), near Bridgeport, AL, on Thursday, October 8. The weather was perfect with an absolutely clear sky (I think pilots call it "severe clear") and the temps were more in keeping with fall weather! We met up about 30 minutes earlier than usual to allow ample time to make it back to the TSARC meeting but return traffic on I-24 East almost foiled us anyway! This is a really nice site with several picnic tables and more than a few shade trees. Nobody had cellular service, though!

Ed (KM6UTC) set up inside his Range Rover and used his ATAS antenna to make 45 FT8 contacts, mostly on 20 Meters but a few on 30 and 17 Meters, too! DX included; Canada, Ceuta & Melilla, Slovak Republic, Chile, Germany and France.

Micha (K3WGC) set up his painter's pole mast with a "drive-on" mast holder in a unique way. Instead of driving over it with his truck, he slightly lifted one end of the picnic table he was using at the park, slid the holder under the leg, and let the weight of the heavy-duty table hold it down. Then with his 20 Meter hamstick dipole on top he used his Xiegu G90, at 20 watts, and made at least 16 Park-to-park contacts!

Danny (AG4DW) set up his KJ6ER Performer antenna with elevated radials and started out on 40 Meters SSB and got a quick 27 contacts. Switching to 15 Meters and FT8 mode, he managed another 21 contacts. Finally, switching to 20 Meters, he hunted for another quick 5 contacts, including the Mother Ship (W1AW). Total of 54 contacts for the day, including 9 Park-to-park contacts. DX (14) included: Belize, Canada (4), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Poland, Puerto Rico (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland. All on 15 Meters.

Having a need to stay a little closer to home this week, Dave (KQ4GLQ) and Maurice (KO4MPH) ran a two-operator activation at Cloudland Canyon State Park (US-2160) from the Nick-a-Jack Trailhead. Dave had a total of 87 contacts; 33 SSB on 40 Meters, 33 SSB on 20 Meters and 21 FT8 on 40 Meters. Maurice had 36 SSB contacts for the day.

Jim (N4WWE) activated Chattanooga and Chickamauga NMP (US-0716) and Trail of Tears (US-3791) with a 20 Meter hamstick and was QRP at 5 watts. After successfully hunting AG4DW, KQ4GLQ and KO4MPH at their respective parks, he went on to make a total of 18 contacts.

Earlier in the week:

Allen (KN4FKS) headed up to Otting WMA (US-7913), near Cloudland, GA, on Monday, October 5. Allen is getting closer to his Kilo at that park. On Monday he had 125 SSB contacts which leaves him only 93 more to go!

Danny (AG4DW) set up in Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) on Wednesday, October 7, at the recreation area behind Wilder's Tower. He had a total of 138 contacts on 40 and 20 Meters using both SSB and FT8.

And congratulations to Doug (W4LAW) who managed a total of 5 activations at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) this past week and crushing through his 4th Kilo at this park! 421 total contacts in US-0716 just in the past week!

>>>>>> And don't forget to listen for Allen Padgett (KN4FKS) and John Law (KB4QXI) calling CQ this weekend. They are in Mentone, AL, at a Cave-In meeting, and will be playing radio in between activities, with probably some other operators thrown in. Maybe they will do some 40 Meter SSB so we can have a better chance of hearing them. Set them up in HamAlert and make contact!
Oct 10, 2026
us0960_5.jpg
4 viewsThis week our POTA group met up at Russell Cave National Monument (US-0960), near Bridgeport, AL, on Thursday, October 8. The weather was perfect with an absolutely clear sky (I think pilots call it "severe clear") and the temps were more in keeping with fall weather! We met up about 30 minutes earlier than usual to allow ample time to make it back to the TSARC meeting but return traffic on I-24 East almost foiled us anyway! This is a really nice site with several picnic tables and more than a few shade trees. Nobody had cellular service, though!

Ed (KM6UTC) set up inside his Range Rover and used his ATAS antenna to make 45 FT8 contacts, mostly on 20 Meters but a few on 30 and 17 Meters, too! DX included; Canada, Ceuta & Melilla, Slovak Republic, Chile, Germany and France.

Micha (K3WGC) set up his painter's pole mast with a "drive-on" mast holder in a unique way. Instead of driving over it with his truck, he slightly lifted one end of the picnic table he was using at the park, slid the holder under the leg, and let the weight of the heavy-duty table hold it down. Then with his 20 Meter hamstick dipole on top he used his Xiegu G90, at 20 watts, and made at least 16 Park-to-park contacts!

Danny (AG4DW) set up his KJ6ER Performer antenna with elevated radials and started out on 40 Meters SSB and got a quick 27 contacts. Switching to 15 Meters and FT8 mode, he managed another 21 contacts. Finally, switching to 20 Meters, he hunted for another quick 5 contacts, including the Mother Ship (W1AW). Total of 54 contacts for the day, including 9 Park-to-park contacts. DX (14) included: Belize, Canada (4), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Poland, Puerto Rico (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland. All on 15 Meters.

Having a need to stay a little closer to home this week, Dave (KQ4GLQ) and Maurice (KO4MPH) ran a two-operator activation at Cloudland Canyon State Park (US-2160) from the Nick-a-Jack Trailhead. Dave had a total of 87 contacts; 33 SSB on 40 Meters, 33 SSB on 20 Meters and 21 FT8 on 40 Meters. Maurice had 36 SSB contacts for the day.

Jim (N4WWE) activated Chattanooga and Chickamauga NMP (US-0716) and Trail of Tears (US-3791) with a 20 Meter hamstick and was QRP at 5 watts. After successfully hunting AG4DW, KQ4GLQ and KO4MPH at their respective parks, he went on to make a total of 18 contacts.

Earlier in the week:

Allen (KN4FKS) headed up to Otting WMA (US-7913), near Cloudland, GA, on Monday, October 5. Allen is getting closer to his Kilo at that park. On Monday he had 125 SSB contacts which leaves him only 93 more to go!

Danny (AG4DW) set up in Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) on Wednesday, October 7, at the recreation area behind Wilder's Tower. He had a total of 138 contacts on 40 and 20 Meters using both SSB and FT8.

And congratulations to Doug (W4LAW) who managed a total of 5 activations at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) this past week and crushing through his 4th Kilo at this park! 421 total contacts in US-0716 just in the past week!

>>>>>> And don't forget to listen for Allen Padgett (KN4FKS) and John Law (KB4QXI) calling CQ this weekend. They are in Mentone, AL, at a Cave-In meeting, and will be playing radio in between activities, with probably some other operators thrown in. Maybe they will do some 40 Meter SSB so we can have a better chance of hearing them. Set them up in HamAlert and make contact!
Oct 10, 2026
4378 files on 365 page(s) 1